'Jarawas willing to come to the mainstream'

The members of Jarawa community are willing to come to the mainstream and embrace modern lifestyle, a local MP has said.

"It would not be appropriate to suppress the voice of the community and leave them in total isolation," Bishnu Pada Ray told a press meet in Port Blair on Friday.

"A parliamentary standing committee has already recommended review of policy for the primitive tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to facilitate a "slow and smooth" transition. But this would have to be done with minimum damage to the members of the tribe and their cultural heritage," he said.

The Jarawas are one of the indigenous people of Andaman Islands. Their present numbers are estimated at between 250-400 individuals.